11 Food Tour Cities in India Foodies Will Love

3. Kolkata — Bengali cuisine and fish-focused tours

Kolkata has a famously rich culinary identity, especially for fish and sweets. Food tours here highlight specialties like macher jhol (fish curry), kathi rolls born on city street corners, and an irresistible parade of sweets from hand-rolled sandesh to spongy rosogolla. Local guides often include a morning market visit where the day’s catch is laid out, and that’s the best time to see how seafood shapes Bengali cooking. Many tours balance savory tastings with a sweet finish at an old confectioner’s shop. The city’s non-vegetarian traditions are prominent—if you prefer vegetarian options, guides will point to excellent alternatives. Use light insect repellent for early-morning markets near the river and plan tours outside peak monsoon days for the most comfortable experience. Tours frequently explain cultural rituals tied to food, like offerings during festivals, which deepens the tasting experience. For visitors from North America, Kolkata offers a chance to taste subtle spice layering and complex sweet-making techniques you might not find elsewhere in India.